Some signs of ageing can be quite obvious in your dog and these indicators can include greying hair (especially around the muzzle), joint stiffness and slower reflexes, generally slowing down when out on walks and sleeping more at home.Hearing loss, reduced vision and a lower sense of smell are also signs but these can be harder to detect and you might not realise straight away that you dog is having difficulty until the symptoms are more advanced.

You might not think that changing your dogs diet will make any difference at all, but there are a number of ingredients included in senior dog food that have been added to do just that. Here is just a small selection of those ingredients and their effects, to help you understand why you should consider moving you r dog onto a senior dog food when you see the first signs of ageing.

1) Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate

You may be familiar with Glucosamine and Chondroitin as they are common treatments to help relieve joint stiffness in people and you probably won’t be surprised to hear that they are used for the exact same purpose in dogs.

You will find Glucosamine and Chondroitin Sulphate in a number of leading dog foods such as Arden Grange Senior Dog Food for all breeds and Eukanuba Mature/Senior Small Breed Dog Food. Eukanuba also provide Mature/Senior dog food for medium breed and large breed dogs and lamb and rice senior/mature for all breeds.

Both of these senior dog foods can be purchased from Swell Pets along with a number of other dog supplies, as well as this you can also consult the experts there who can help you decide which foods is going to be best suited for your dog.

2) Omega 3 and 6 and fatty acids

These are also ingredients that you will be familiar with as a number of adverts highlight the advantages of including Omega 3 and 6 in your diet.

Where dogs are concerned these ingredients are vital for helping to maintain their skin and coat and again you will find Omega 3 and 6 and/or Fatty Acids in a number of senior dog foods such as Royal Canin Maxi Mature Dog Food, Royal Canin also provide mature dog food for Mini and Medium Breed Dogs. Nature Diet Senior Lite Wet Dog Food, James Wellbeloved Senior/Light Dog Food and Iams Senior and Mature Dog Food.

3) Anti-oxidants

Anti-oxidants are included in many dog foods to aid their immune system; these can be found in a number of dog foodmanufacturers’ senior foods including Hills Science Plan Mature Adult Dog Food.

Some manufacturers even reduce the fat and calories contained in their senior dog food to make it easier for you to maintain your dogs’ weight as certain breeds of dog can put weight on more easily as they get older and as you dog becomes less mobile and slows down you may find it more difficult to keep their weight at an ideal level.

It is vital that you do manage to keep your dogs weight under control as if your dog is carrying too much weight conditions such as joint stiffness and arthritis can be accentuated, making your dog’s life more difficult and uncomfortable.

When should you change your dog onto senior food?

There isn’t a specific age that all dog are classed as senior, a number of the dog food manufacturers seem to use age seven as a guideline but it really does depend on your dog and their breed.

Large breeds such as Great Danes can show signs of ageing from a young as five and Yorkshire Terriers can be as mature as 12 before they start to show any signs of slowing down.

So basically you need to pay attention to your dog, watch for the signs of ageing and then when they do appear don’t deny that they’re there. In winter you might want to invest in a dog coat even if they have never had one before as older dogs can feel the cold more, just as people can.

You might also want to buy a ramp to make it easier for your dog to get in and out of the car, and you might decide to take them for hydro-therapy as this a good form of exercise which will not put too much strain on their joints. Be aware though, that most hydro-therapy providers will ask for confirmation from your vets that your dog is up to date with their vaccinations and that they are of generally good health, so have your vets details to hand before you book.

How do you keep the peace in a multi-dog family home? It’s all about establishing pack order, hierarchy, and who is dominant over whom. Dominance among dogs is based on size, not on factors like age, according to Stanley Coren. (01:59)

In this pet health care video, Dr. April Miles reviews at what age your pet is considered senior and discusses why regular vet visits are important for your senior dog or cat, what your vet will look for, and what to expect as your pet ages. (03:10)

This daily dog training video shows a fun time in Fallon Nevada of me passing a Senior Hunt test. Hunt tests are loads of fun, and anyone interested in trying them should go watch a few and give it a try! (03:37)

Dog owners would agree that their dog is more than just a pet. It is a companion, a friend and more importantly a member of the family. In return for their companionship all they ask from their owners is a little love and care (and perhaps the occasional juicy bone or two). But how many dog owners actually pay attention to the quality of food they are feeding their dog?

When it comes to keeping pets, owners must be very careful about nutrition. If you have a dog, you have to ensure that your dog gets the best nutrition so that it lives healthy.
It is a big mistake to think that you can feed your dog anything under the sun….

What you may not realize, training with dog crates is in truth one of the best ways to house training. Crates provide dogs their own little personal place which no one else could bother them. Why wouldn’t your dog want a crate?

Regardless of the presence of many animal shelters and pet rescue groups, many pet owners still buy their dogs from pet shops, not knowing that adopting a dog from a shelter is a better option. Why would you pick your pet from an animal shelter?

You’ll find countless reasons to love a dog. The dog is appreciative, patient with its owners, loyal and protective. As a result of these, even the sternest of dog owner’s fall into the trap of pampering the dog sometimes unmindful of the effect of the temporary indulgence.

According to the Grey Muzzle Organization, the most important decision you can make with regard to daily care for your aging dog is the food you feed. Here, I will list some of the senior formulas in the dog food brands we carry at www.doggiefood.com, as well as the specific nutrients in each individual product.

There are many varieties and styles of dog pet beds to choose from, both in stores and on the internet. From the simplicity of the pillow type, to elaborate, hand-crafted frames and mattresses, canine beds come in all shapes and sizes. The one that is right for you depends on your dog, your budget, and your personal taste in dog pet beds.

Fleas are one of the biggest problems with having a dog bed. They can thrive and multiply in those small crevices and can cause great discomfort to your pet. Most of the time, flea problems recur (even when your pet is thoroughly treated) because they are still populations and are thriving in the dog bed which can easily re-invade your pet’s body. Today, the best solution that you can turn to is the cedar dog beds.

If you’ve talked to your vet and have read up on health issues for dogs, you’re probably aware that many dogs suffer from joint problems, arthritis, and muscle pain. It’s important that you do your part as an owner to limit the amount of pain your dog experiences. One of the things that you can do is to purchase orthopedic beds for dogs.

Whether your pooch is a puppy or in his senior year, comfortable dog beds are not just a luxury for your pet. Pet beds not only provide a private place for your dog to retreat, but there are health benefits to your dog as well. Your pet beds don’t have to be plain; there are a wide range of choices to match your décor and your pet.

Love your dogs and show it with luxury dog beds. These beds are designed to be firm yet soft for your dogs’ comfort and health. Carefully chosen dog beds should also be able to withstand wear and tear. A frisky dog can demolish furniture in time, hence, after health and comfort considerations, choose dog beds that are sturdy yet comfortable.

Pumpkin is one of the known natural remedies for dog diarrhea. It is high in fiber and water which is a great help in keeping your dog hydrated and to normalize the stool. It is a good thing now that pumpkin with out chemicals is readily available in processed form so you can now get canned pumpkin for dog diarrhea.

No one will argue that pet strollers for dogs are one of the cutest inventions for dogs, but they also serve a purpose, other than just being “cute.” Often people need a dog stroller because the dog is not able walk for whatever reason, but the owner wants to take the dog outside.

Bonfire night has to be the worst time of year for our pets. No longer is it a one day event – it seems to last for a couple of weeks. Dogs often react badly to fireworks causing them considerable stress. Here are some helpful hints to help beat the bangs.

California Dog Fence sells, services and installs the Pet Stop brand of pet containment systems. The industry leader in state-of-the-art technology pet containment systems. Free to run, jump, and play while keeping your beloved companions out of harms way. You should assume that the owner of this website is an affiliate for providers of goods and services mentioned on this website. The owner may be compensated when you purchase after clicking on a link. The owner may also have received the product for free. Perform due diligence before purchasing from this or any other website.